Explore every episode of the podcast World Cinema History
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| "The Leopard" (1963) (Il Gattopardo) with Mike Corradi from A History of Italy | 07 oct. 2026 | 01:13:20 | |
"The Leopard" (1963) (Il Gattopardo) | with Special Guest Mike Corradi. THE NOVEL: "The Leopard" (1958) (Il Gattopardo) by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. THE FILM: "The Leopard" (1963) (Il Gattopardo) Directed by: Luchino Visconti Screenplay by: Suso Cecchi d'Amico Pasquale Festa Campanile Enrico Mediolib Massimo Franciosa Luchino Visconti Produced by: Goffredo Lombardo Starring: Burt Lancaster Claudia Cardinale Alain Delon Paolo Stoppa Rina Morelli Romolo Valli Serge Reggiani Cinematography: Giuseppe Rotunno Music by: Nino Rota THE HOST: Eric Trommater https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory SPECIAL GUEST: Mike Corradi, host of A History of Italy. https://ahistoryofitaly.com/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-history-of-italy/id1318925583 https://youtube.com/@ahistoryofitalypodcast9762?si=xLN2KYFtDmvrsoHB THE PANEL: Erin Brown https://youtube.com/@pizzahorseproductions?si=xktDoZK2qveXxOXl Sila Blume https://silablume.life/ Jennifer Trujillo https://gilbertbakerfilmfestival.lgbt/ Koom Kankesan https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/4953181.Koom_Kankesan THE CHAPTERS: (TBA) CONNECT WITH US: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!) | |||
| Oscar Winner Kevin Willmott Exclusive Interview: "CSA: Confederate States of America" | 21 sept. 2026 | 01:42:27 | |
Oscar winning screenwriter Kevin Willmott (with Spike Lee for "BlacKkKlansman") sits down with Eric Trommater, Erin Brown, Sila Blume and Jennifer Trujillo. The subject is his 2004 Mockumentary "CSA: Confederate States of America" which he wrote, produced and directed. It imagines the United States if the South had won The Civil War. Chapters: 0:00 - Oscar Winner Kevin Willmott Discusses "CSA: Confederate States of America" 3:14 - From "9th St." to "The 24th": Willmott's Indie Path 11:09 - Willmott's Fascination with History and "Appointment with Destiny" 15:29 - Frustration with Hollywood and the Reality of Slavery 18:34 - Mockumentary Style and Real Racist Product Commercials 24:52 - Collaborative Spirit of Low-Budget Filmmaking in Kansas 33:27 - Film's Controversy, Music, and the "Lost Cause" Narrative 38:37 - Why Films Must Challenge Audiences on American History 44:39 - USA vs. CSA: Expanding vs. Limiting Freedom 59:25 - How Fear and Hate Drive Political Decisions 1:15:45 - Are We Living in the Confederate States of America Today? 1:24:46 - The Paradox of Information and the Rise of Propaganda 1:34:28 - When Absurdity Outpaces the Power of Satire 1:39:28 - Social Media, Next Episode, and Community Discussion Music Used: Space Ambience by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com She Has Freckles on Her But, She is Nice https://youtu.be/pNcjs30BZTs?si=_7ouaQAX1hpDa7yO Lead Belly Midnight Special https://youtu.be/zIC2hVvKzVQ?si=XqFttfpnYknQR6Rr Elmer Bernstein Appointment with Destiny theme https://youtu.be/Qt6eKU3v1XE?si=7hjTnAQxiNPMlppU Connect With Us: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!) | |||
| Kafka's "The Trial" on Film: Orson Welles vs Harold Pinter. | 06 août 2026 | 01:00:50 | |
The Novel: The Trial (Der Prozess) (1925) by Franz Kafka The Films: The Trial (Le Procès) (1962) Directed by: Orson Welles Screenplay by: Orson Welles Produced by: Alexander Salkind Starring: Anthony Perkins, Orson Welles, Jeanne Moreau, Romy Schneider, Akim Tamiroff and Elsa Martinelli The Trial (1993) British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Directed by: David Jones Screenplay by: Harold Pinter Produced by: Louis Marks and Jan Balzer Starring: Kyle MacLachlan, Anthony Hopkins and Jason Robards The Panel: Host: Eric Trommater Guests: Erin Brown and Sila Blume Music Credits: Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: V. Chaconne by Johann Sebastian Bach. Performed live by Ben Goldstein. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. https://youtu.be/UaRrDZWhtWA?si=v_no8Gd_OZ3x5R0s The Chapters: (TBA) Connect With Us: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!) | |||
| WCH Rewind: The Jethro Waters Interview. "Gun Fighter Paradise." | 24 juil. 2026 | 01:27:17 | |
Writer-Director-Editor-Actor Jethro Waters sat down with us to discuss his film Gunfighter Paradise and the many hats he wore while making it. Eric Trommater leads a panel with Sila Blume, Erin Brown and Jennifer Trujillo to quiz Jethro on the movie's many mysteries. What's in the Suitcase? Who is Braz Cubas? Why is Braz Cubas? Music: Sci-Fi Music for YouTube Videos (No Copyright) https://youtu.be/2a-VL1VoHJ0?si=WXXv-vK9NlH0Czrr Sid Hemphil Complete Library of Congress Recordings 1941-1942 https://youtu.be/cTjA1a1CjQs?si=pVZ-EVN3pv9dXXpN Muddy Waters Field Recordings 1941-1942 https://youtu.be/co52GGV1SYc?si=-8EDa8W6CeD8Zv4V Nouth Jazz B. White (1920) https://youtu.be/sB6jXSr7_wQ?si=DXoxw4XMpnVwDVz8 Connect With Us: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!) | |||
| "The Leopard" (1963) (Il Gattopardo) | with Special Guest Mike Corradi. | 06 juil. 2026 | 01:13:20 | |
"The Leopard" (1963) (Il Gattopardo) | with Special Guest Mike Corradi. THE NOVEL: "The Leopard" (1958) (Il Gattopardo) by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. THE FILM: "The Leopard" (1963) (Il Gattopardo) Directed by: Luchino Visconti Screenplay by: Suso Cecchi d'Amico Pasquale Festa Campanile Enrico Medioli Massimo Franciosa Luchino Visconti Produced by: Goffredo Lombardo Starring: Burt Lancaster Claudia Cardinale Alain Delon Paolo Stoppa Rina Morelli Romolo Valli Serge Reggiani Cinematography: Giuseppe Rotunno Music by: Nino Rota THE HOST: Eric Trommater https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory SPECIAL GUEST: Mike Corradi, host of A History of Italy. https://ahistoryofitaly.com/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-history-of-italy/id1318925583 https://youtube.com/@ahistoryofitalypodcast9762?si=xLN2KYFtDmvrsoHB THE PANEL: Erin Brown https://youtube.com/@pizzahorseproductions?si=xktDoZK2qveXxOXl Sila Blume https://silablume.life/ Jennifer Trujillo https://gilbertbakerfilmfestival.lgbt/ Koom Kankesan https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/4953181.Koom_Kankesan THE CHAPTERS: Introducing Special Guest Mike Corradi (NOT Mike Duncan) 0:00 Unpacking the Historical Visconti Family 2:09 Luchino Visconti's Career and Film Choices 9:28 Initial Reactions to The Leopard Film 11:08 Comparing The Leopard Novel and Film 18:23 Brigantaggio and Southern Italy's Invasion 23:59 Analyzing The Leopard's Iconic Dance Sequence 28:57 Critiquing The Leopard's Character Portrayals 35:05 Portrayal of Organized Crime in Italy 40:13 The Leopard's Journey to American Audiences 43:23 Marxist Critique and Christian Democrats 50:59 Unpublished Chapters and The Dog's Significance 58:10 Enduring Political and Regional Challenges 1:03:30 Revisiting Unification, Mafia, and Reforms 1:05:19 Guest Mike Corradi's Last Words and Contact Info 1:08:16 CONNECT WITH US: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!) | |||
| "Shoot the Piano Player (French: Tirez sur le pianiste/Shoot the Pianist)" (1960) | 01 juil. 2026 | 01:00:40 | |
THE MOVIE: Shoot the Piano Player (French: Tirez sur le pianiste; UK title: Shoot the Pianist) (1960) THE NOVEL: Down There by David Goodis (1957) CAST: Charles Aznavour Marie Dubois Nicole Berger Michèle Mercier Albert Rémy DIRECTED BY: François Truffaut SCREENPLAY: François Truffaut Marcel Moussy THE HOST: Eric Trommater THE PANEL: Sila Blume Erin Brown CLIPS USED: https://youtu.be/_pJoOvhitCU?is=Akh1L-hodPkScsF3 https://youtu.be/FVP4ObMlYG4?is=nZAZGOuwzYC8Ab8q COLD OPEN POEM: Evidently Chickentown" John Cooper Clarke. CHAPTERS John Cooper Clarke's Poem "Evidently Chicken Town" and Host Introductions 0:00 Oscar Wilde, Truffaut, and American Trash Culture 1:18 Aaron's Preference for Truffaut Over Godard 2:35 Sila's View: Truffaut's Intellectual Storytelling 3:27 Adapting 'Down There' and Existential Heroes 5:14 Charles Aznavour's Look and Film's Execution 6:32 Aaron on Tonal Shifts and Slapstick Humor 8:25 French Rediscovery of American 'Trash' Art 10:37 From Virtuoso to Master of His Own Decline 13:16 Goodis's Wife and Film's Initial French Bomb 14:11 Critics Misunderstanding Truffaut's Jazz-Fueled Film 16:22 From Virtuoso to Master of His Own Decline 13:16 Film's Initial French Bomb, Critics Misunderstanding and Truffaut's Jazz-Fueled Film 16:22 The Essential Role of Humor in the Film 19:49 Heidegger, Wittgenstein, and Charlie's Existence 22:13 Sila on Camera Work and Charlie's Expressions 26:46 Charlie's Connections and Movie References 28:51 Subtitle Discrepancies and Novel's Language 29:38 Truffaut's Warmth vs. Godard's Cold Detachment 32:59 Jazz, Godard, and the Soul of the Film 38:10 The Importance of Widescreen Cinematography 38:40 The Unnecessary Violinist Sequence 42:22 Goodis' Life, Relationships, and Posthumous Reputation 45:04 Charlie's Mature Bonds with Women 50:28 Truffaut's Punkish, Rule-Breaking Early Work 52:47 Lightning Round: Goodis Quotes vs. Criticisms 56:19 Where to Find Hosts and The Leopard Preview 59:12 Translations from clip: Clarisse: "I did go to the movies this afternoon. I saw 'Torpedoes in Alaska'." Charlie Kohler: "How was it?" Clarisse: "It's a picture with John Wayne, to show that the Americans want peace." Charlie Kohler: "No kidding? Then they're just like me, the Yankees." CONNECT WITH US: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!) | |||
| "The Godfather" (1972): Film vs Novel | 24 juin 2026 | 01:27:32 | |
THE NOVEL: The Godfather (1969 nice 😉 ) By Mario Puzo THE FILM: The Godfather (1972) Directed by Francis Ford Coppola Screenplay by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola Produced by Albert S. Ruddy Starring Marlon Brando Al Pacino James Caan Richard Castellano Robert Duvall Sterling Hayden John Marley Richard Conte Diane Keaton Cinematography Gordon Willis THE HOST: Erin Brown YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pizzahorseproductions Bluesky: @toadpuppy.bsky.social THE PANEL: Eric Trommater https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory Edie Eberhard https://www.highgrasshideoutstudios.com/ Jennifer Trujillo https://gilbertbakerfilmfestival.lgbt/ Sila Blume https://silablume.life/ Koom Kankesan https://www.mawenzihouse.com/product/killing-shakespeare/ THE CHAPTERS: 0:00 Playful Power Struggle and Panel Introductions 1:50 New Perspectives on The Godfather's Classic Status 4:03 Unpacking The Godfather's Portrayal of Family Dynamics 7:54 Discovering The Godfather's Charm and Memorable Lines 10:06 Mario Puzo's Literary Ambitions and The Godfather Novel 12:41 Deeper Characterizations of Women in Puzo's Novel 17:06 Exploring the Novel's Subtleties and Cultural Context 20:13 Why The Godfather's Style Feels Hollow to Eric 24:45 Eric's Take on Performances and Commercial Cynicism 29:18 The Godfather's 'Hollow Prestige' and Cut Content 31:40 Debating Marlon Brando's Iconic Godfather Performance 36:40 The Godfather's Unprecedented Success Against Odds 38:30 The Godfather's Role in American Cinema and Identity 42:58 Al Pacino's Internalized Portrayal of Michael Corleone 47:43 Michael's Ascent and the Passing of the Torch 53:42 Unforgettable Moments in Vito Corleone's Performance 58:58 The Godfather's Legacy and Gangster Film Mythology 1:05:09 Diverse Interpretations and The Godfather Fan Theories 1:10:13 From Pulp to Prestige: Puzo's Influence and Coppola's Art 1:15:04 The Godfather's Influence Across Cinema and Culture 1:19:56 Unpopular Opinions and Teasing Next Week's Film CLIPS and MUSIC USED: https://youtu.be/nDqi7a21Oeg?is=S4RzVsghwnjPhTfN https://youtu.be/ndEKkGoeh5Q?is=7xKquvjaRqU3pYEo CONNECT WITH US: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5R1qE8J1N9gB7o0wJ9m3W0 (Note: please use your actual Spotify link) X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!) | |||
| "The Proust Screenplay" by Harold Pinter: Proust on Film Part II. | 12 juin 2026 | 00:39:42 | |
Part 1: The Memory of Time In the first of our two-part look at Marcel Proust on film, we explore Raúl Ruiz’s 1999 adaptation of the final volume of In Search of Lost Time. Our panel discusses the act of remembering, the difference between theatrical and home viewing, and why our experience of time—and cinema—feels so fragmented in the modern age. Part 2: The Pinter Machine We conclude our Proust series with a deep dive into Harold Pinter’s legendary unproduced screenplay for In Search of Lost Time. We break down the structural mechanics of his adaptation, the history of the Visconti production, and our take on the "Summarize Proust" contest. The Novel: In Search of Lost Time (À la recherche du temps perdu) by Marcel Proust: A seven-volume work written between 1909 and 1922, published in 1927. The Film (Part 1): Time Regained (Le Temps retrouvé) (1999). Directed by Raúl Ruiz. Starring Catherine Deneuve, Emmanuelle Béart, Marcello Mazzarella, John Malkovich, Marie-France Pisier, and Vincent Perez. CHAPTERS 0:00 A Pair of Homages: Joyce Carol Oates' X thread and Ryan George's "Pitch Meeting." Wow, wow, wow...wow! 4:16 Harold Pinter's Unproduced Proust: A Cinematic History from Visconti to Ruiz. 8:17 Monty Python's Sumerize Proust Competition: From Madeleine to Dreyfus: Understanding Proust's Masterpiece 12:05 Pinter's Precision vs. Ruiz's Dreamscape: Adapting Proust 19:37 The Nuance of Pinter's Dialogue: Script vs. Screen 22:39 Pinter's 'Meaning' and the Critics' Reaction 27:51 The Genius of Pinter's Silence: Future Adaptations 30:29 Art's Personal Impact and Evolving Interpretations 35:03 Fluid Identity, Art's Impact, and Next Week's Preview...The Godfather. Meet the Panel Erin Brown YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pizzahorseproductions Bluesky: @toadpuppy.bsky.social Jen Trujillo Web: www.GilbertBakerFilmFestival.LGBT Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gilbertbakerfilmfest/ Sila Blume Web: https://silablume.life/ Koom Kankesan Web: https://www.mawenzihouse.com/product/killing-shakespeare/ Connect With Us: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!) | |||
| "Time Regained" (1999): Proust on Film Part 1 | 07 juin 2026 | 01:00:44 | |
A Note on this Series: I owe my panel a disclaimer. While I spent nine months prepping—rereading Proust, the screenplay, and researching historical context—the panel had only 10 days and the film, Time Regained, as a guide. I set them a steep climb without the necessary time, operating under the mistaken assumption that Proust was a universal cultural touchstone. Any lack of sharpness in these discussions is a result of that structural mismatch in preparation. My thanks to the panel for their patience in an uncomfortable space. This series is our honest attempt to engage with the mountain; thanks for joining the climb. Part 1: The Memory of Time In the first of our two-part look at Marcel Proust on film, we explore Raúl Ruiz’s 1999 adaptation of the final volume of In Search of Lost Time. Our panel discusses the act of remembering, the difference between theatrical and home viewing, and why our experience of time—and cinema—feels so fragmented in the modern age. Part 2: The Pinter Machine We conclude our Proust series with a deep dive into Harold Pinter’s legendary unproduced screenplay for In Search of Lost Time. We break down the structural mechanics of his adaptation, the history of the Visconti production, and our take on the "Summarize Proust" contest. The Novel: In Search of Lost Time (À la recherche du temps perdu) by Marcel Proust: A seven-volume work written between 1909 and 1922, published in 1927. The Film (Part 1): Time Regained (Le Temps retrouvé) (1999). Directed by Raúl Ruiz. Starring Catherine Deneuve, Emmanuelle Béart, Marcello Mazzarella, John Malkovich, Marie-France Pisier, and Vincent Perez. Meet the Panel Erin Brown YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pizzahorseproductions Bluesky: @toadpuppy.bsky.social Jen Trujillo Web: www.GilbertBakerFilmFestival.LGBT Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gilbertbakerfilmfest/ Sila Blume Web: https://silablume.life/ Koom Kankesan Web: https://www.mawenzihouse.com/product/killing-shakespeare/ Chapters: [00:00] Bubble Gum memories and involuntary triggers [01:22] Remembrance of Things Past vs. In Search of Lost Time...the Same Damn Book! [01:52] Raul Ruiz’s approach to adaptation [02:43] Character cheat sheet: Marcel, Charlus, Saint-Loup, and others and how they fit in Time Regained [04:19] Thematic trends: Aristocratic decline and queer relationships through new scholarship [05:43] Personal reflections on adapting literature, is it a good idea? [13:23] Adaptation as interpretation in music and film. Sila Blume's soliloquy. [19:40] Struggles with narrative and context without the previous volumes of Proust. [23:06] The impact of theater viewing vs. home viewing on our attention to the movie. [33:49] The role of queer women in the narrative [41:42] Philosophies on time, memory, and perception. A FFA. [54:34] Final thoughts and the Harold Pinter screenplay NEXT WEEK! Connect With Us: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!) | |||
| "The Trial" (1925, 1962, 1993): Kafka vs Welles vs Jones-Pinter | 28 mai 2026 | 01:00:50 | |
The Novel:
The Films:
Screenplay by: Orson Welles
The Panel:
https://youtu.be/UaRrDZWhtWA?si=v_no8Gd_OZ3x5R0s The Chapters: (TBA) 00:00:00 - Introduction & The Philosophy of Solipsism 00:02:07 - Opening Thoughts on Welles vs. Jones-Pinter 00:06:50 - The Meaning of Der Prozess: Language and Detail 00:12:05 - The Rhythmic Deception of Harold Pinter's Dialogue 00:22:37 - Structural Traps and Camera Violations 00:25:55 - Post-War Systems vs. Internalized Guilt 00:30:48 - Game Segment: Mapping the Family Tree of the Void 00:36:41 - The Mechanical Breakdown of Linguistic Erosion 00:43:19 - Technical Hurdles, Low Budgets, and Lenses 00:46:34 - The Quarry: Comparing the Explosive vs. Sterile Endings 00:56:33 - Philosophical Lineage: Existentialism and Absurdism 00:59:39 - Sign-Off and Where to Find Us Connect With Us:
Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club
Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory
| |||
| "The Stranger" (1943, 1967, 2026) | Camus vs Visconti vs Ozon. | 19 mai 2026 | 01:39:56 | |
*WARNING! The FDA highly recommends making peace with the absurdity of the universe before consuming this product. THE HOST Eric Trommater * Support Eric on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/I2I81KK10U Follow on X: @etrommater THE PANEL Erin Brown * Pizza Horse Productions: https://youtube.com/@pizzahorseproductions?si=V91512KJ9HpYNH0b Bluesky: @toadpuppy.bsky.soci Jen Trujillo Gilbert Baker Film Festival: https://gilbertbakerfilmfestival.lgbt/ Instagram: @GilbertBakerFilmFest Sila Blume Website: https://silablume.life/ Nicole de Meneses Instagram: @darkrainbowfilms | @bloodpopcornfilmfest GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-dark-rainbows-sapphic-stories-shine THE NOVEL "The Stranger" by Albert Camus (1943) THE MOVIES Lo straniero (1967) Directed by: Luchino Visconti Screenplay by: Luchino Visconti, Suso Cecchi d'Amico Produced by: Dino De Laurentiis Starring: Marcello Mastroianni, Anna Karina, Bernard Blier, Jacques Herlin, Georges Géret, Georges Wilson Cinematography: Giuseppe Rotunno L'Étranger (2025) Directed by: François Ozon Produced by: François Ozon Starring: Benjamin Voisin, Rebecca Marder, Pierre Lottin, Denis Lavant, Swann Arlaud Cinematography: Manu Dacosse *WARNING! The Universe is Cold and Indifferent to your suffering. If you've been a victim of Absurdism you may be eligible for compensation from The Universe. Side Effects Include: • Ennui • Turtle Neck and Beret Wearing • Chain Smoking • Liking "That Band" Before it Was Cool • Ironically Liking Robert Smith • Unironically Liking Robert Smith • Hair Loss "The Stranger" (1942, 1967, 2026). Camus vs Visconti vs Ozon.
THE CHAPTERS 0:00 Comparing Two Adaptations of Albert Camus's 'The Stranger' 2:15 Panelists Share Initial Reactions to Both Film Versions 7:28 Exploring Homoeroticism and Cinematic Choices in Ozon's Film 15:39 Eric's Evolution of Understanding Camus's 'The Stranger' 25:17 From Real-Life Inspiration to Ozon's Controversial Ending 37:13 How Camus's Absurdism Became a Political Weapon Today 55:25 Society's Absurd Reaction to Meursault's Sincere Normality 1:03:16 Meursault's Lack of Empathy and Life's Absurd Choices 1:18:45 Examining Female Roles and the Controversial Priest Scene 1:33:05 Final Thoughts on Camus, Indifference, and Societal Lies Connect With Us YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!) | |||
| Film Festival Round Table | 11 mai 2026 | 01:00:16 | |
The Host: Eric Trommater https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory The Panel: Susan Gorrell Executive Director of the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival (JDIFF). https://julienfilmfest.com/ Jim Farmer Festival Director of Out On Film https://outonfilm.org Jennifer Trujillo Senior Managing Director and Executive Director at the Gilbert Baker Film Festival and Panelist on The World Cinema History Podcast. https://gilbertbakerfilmfestival.lgbt/ Joshua R. Pangborn Writer/Actor/Filmmaker of Queer Fat-Positive Horror/Comedy. Founder/SideKick Productions. https://www.sidekickproductionsny.com Luke Higginson Writer/Director/Co-Editor of RELAX, I'M FROM THE FUTURE (2023) and friend of The World Cinema History Podcast. https://www.instagram.com/borrowedtimemedia Erin Brown Independent Filmmaker and Co-Host of The World Cinema History Podcast. https://youtube.com/@pizzahorseproductions Laura Petrie Founder and Executive Director Cinema Systers Film Festival. https://cinemasysters.com/ krissy mahan working class filmmaker and founder of dykeumentary films. https://www.dykeumentary.com/ The Issues: 0:00 Shenanigans, Tomfoolery, and the Podcast's Opening Banter 0:55 Introducing Our Distinguished Panel of Film Festival Experts 3:11 Volume, AI, and Human Standards in Film Submissions 5:18 Balancing Quality, Inclusivity, and Niche Film Curation 7:33 Expression, Online Reach, and In-Person Connection 13:34 Expanding Reach Through Online Film Festivals 17:33 The Struggle for Indies: Big Names Don't Guarantee Entry 21:20 Uplifting Voices: Why Queer Film Festivals Are Essential 23:29 How Festivals Screen Thousands of Films 25:53 Making Festivals Inclusive: Venues, Captions, and Beyond 31:33 Getting Artists Paid in the Streaming Era 38:16 Prestige, Strategy, and Audience Impact 42:30 Celebrating Unique Voices and Community 46:47 What is Art's Role in Global Crises? | |||
| Jennifer's Picks: "Bound" (1996) | 05 mai 2026 | 01:15:51 | |
"I'm not suggesting Bound ...is a remake of Pandora’s Box... but as a cinephile, you can’t ignore the visual tether." This week on World Cinema History, host Eric Trommater finds himself in a tight spot—literally. After a "method-acting" introduction that leaves him duct-taped in a storage closet, Jennifer Trujillo takes the lead to dive into the high-contrast, tactile neo-noir world of the Wachowskis’ 1996 debut, Bound. While the world knows the Wachowskis for the sprawling digital philosophy of The Matrix, we look back at their most disciplined work—a film that trades "The Chosen One" for the sharp geometry of a shared wall and the visceral texture of fresh white paint. We explore how Jennifer Tilly’s Violet weaponizes the "Lulu" mask of 1920s icon Louise Brooks, and how the film acts as a bridge between the visual economy of German Expressionism and the modern graphic novel. To wrap things up, Eric steps into his "asshole film snob" persona to issue a challenge: How did the Wachowskis manage to make a couple committing heinous crimes likable, when masters like Godard, Fellini, and Bergman left Jennifer cold? Plot Summary provided by: Nicole de Meneses Hosts Jen Trujillo www.GilbertBakerFilmFestival.LGBT @GilbertBakerFilmFest on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gilbertbakerfilmfest/ Eric Trommater https://ko-fi.com/I2I81KK10U @etrommater on X (aka Twitter) Guests Laura Petrie www.cinemasysters.com Krissy Mahan https://www.dykeumentary.com/ https://www.instagram.com/dykeumentary/ Sila Blume https://silablume.life/ Koom Kankesan https://www.amazon.com/Killing-Shakespeare-Koom-Kankesan/dp/1774151626 Kacy Boccumini @kacyBoccumini on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kacyboccumini/ or Substack @ https://kacyboccumini.substack.com/ Nicole de Meneses https://www.instagram.com/darkrainbowfilms/ https://www.instagram.com/bloodpopcornfilmfest/ https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-dark-rainbows-sapphic-stories-shine Rose ‘Maria’ Mitchell Instagram: @rose_maria_mitchell https://www.instagram.com/rose_maria_mitchell/ Soundscape and Clip: https://youtu.be/t2fOvGDnin0?si=TKZcLUn7PD7TrHqb https://youtu.be/WjI8chb3FZo?si=vqJkaCGlwFRVLcBo https://youtu.be/AJre5Fv4498?si=VIwKSmNEgeHqp1C_ Connect With Us: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!) | |||
| Fellini's "I Vitelloni" (1953) & the DNA of the Hangout Movie | 22 avr. 2026 | 01:15:03 | |
"As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a cinephile." This week, the World Cinema History panel breathes in the salt air of 1953 Rimini to tackle Federico Fellini’s early masterwork, I Vitelloni. Following our "Road to Godard" series, we’re pivoting from Maoist groupthink to the "Economic Miracle" of Italy, where the problem isn't a lack of resources—it's a vacuum of purpose. Join Eric Trommater, Erin Brown, Sila Blume, Koom Kankesan, and a very skeptical Jennifer Trujillo as we break down the blueprint for the "hangout movie." From the "Overgrown Calves" terrified of an alarm clock to the cinematic DNA that directly informed Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets and Goodfellas, we explore how Fellini used the camera to judge, mock, and ultimately find mercy for his lovable losers. In This Episode: The "Goodfellas" Connection: We analyze how Scorsese lifted Fellini’s "roll call" and tracking shot techniques to introduce his own crew of nobodies on the street corner. Technical Breakdown: We dive into the physics of the 25–28mm lens. Why do these men look "top-heavy" and grotesque? We discuss the "big head" effect and how Fellini used wide-angle distortion as a tool for satire. The Ghost Train: A deep dive into the technical miracle of the final sequence, where Fellini breaks the physical "contract" of the world to film a journey through memory. Nino Rota’s Sound: How the predecessor to The Godfather score turns a pathetic provincial life into a grand, tragic parade. The Cinematic Timeline: We place I Vitelloni in context between the domestic shadows of C’è ancora domani and the cynical "Years of Lead" seen in Seven Beauties. Next Week’s Pick: Jennifer brings us back to the 90s with Bound. "One dog goes one way, the other dog goes the other way, and Moraldo is standing in the middle like, 'Whaddaya want from me?'" Chapters 0:00 From Goodfellas to Fellini: A Cinematic Opening 2:24 Jennifer's Unpopular Opinion: Machismo in 1953 Italy 9:20 Unlikable Characters & Sympathetic Satire in Fellini's Film 15:07 Placing 'I Vitelloni' in Italy's Post-War Cinematic Evolution 21:09 Moraldo's Journey: Narrator, Protagonist, or Moral Compass? 26:42 Fellini's Casting Choices: Leopoldo's Intellectual Pretensions 30:16 The Blueprint for Hangout Movies: Fellini's Influence on Scorsese 33:52 Wide-Angle Lenses: Crafting Grotesque Imagery in Fellini's Style 40:23 The DNA of 'The Godfather' Score: Nino Rota's 'I Vitelloni' Music 45:17 Moraldo & Fausto: Symbolism in Character Names and Relationships 50:11 Breaking the Contract: Moraldo's Escape and Fellini's Artistic Evolution 1:02:20 Behind the Scenes: Costumes, Sets, and Fellini's Production Control 1:07:25 Final Thoughts on Fellini and Announcing Next Week's Film: 'Bound' Clips Used: Clips from Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas Clips from Federico Fellini's I Vitteloni https://youtu.be/6SPLEPdEBuo?si=rxrnuAMMCgMwSGd9 https://youtu.be/pct1uEhAqBQ?si=_oGY9oS4RcJKtTcc Nouth Jazz B. White (1920) https://youtu.be/aM5z0XLRdXc?si=MVf9MNChUIZ1h6E0 Christopher Romero Wilson as Charley from Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman https://youtu.be/mRe8J4scGtU?si=aOggHR4uOhDWMZlD https://youtu.be/zxtz-L6YLpk?si=XnPtrQG8d-7vSuc8 Connect With Us: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!) | |||
| Bergman's "Passion (1969):" Silence, Color, and Liv Ullmann | 18 avr. 2026 | 01:28:42 | |
Ingmar Bergman’s "The Passion of Anna" In this episode, we dive into the stark, psychological landscape of Ingmar Bergman’s 1969 masterpiece, The Passion of Anna. As we transition from our Road to Godard series into the new Adaptation era, we explore a film that marks a pivotal moment in Bergman's career—an island of isolation, truth, and structural experimentation. In this roundtable discussion:
The Panel: Hosted by Eric Trommater, featuring Erin Brown, Jennifer Trujillo, Sila Blume, and first-time guest Koom Kankesan. Chapters 0:00 Celebrating 100 Episodes: Unpacking Bergman's Personal Demons 5:37 The Incredible Story Behind Koom's Liv Ullmann Autograph 15:56 Unraveling The Passion of Anna's Animal Cruelty Mystery 21:39 How Bergman Mastered New Wave Cinema and Challenged Audiences 34:12 Is The Passion of Anna Misogynistic? Exploring Trauma and Guilt 53:32 Bergman's Control: The Truth Behind The Film's Interview Segments 1:01:06 Sven Nykvist's Experimental Color: The Film's Visual Disintegration 1:12:23 Analyzing The Passion of Anna's Powerful Ending and Bergman's Legacy 1:25:07 Where to Find Our Panelists and What's Next Week Clips used: https://youtu.be/9fQ7wmlxDno?si=Kgn1bF_eZZy3PHpI https://youtube.com/shorts/OHrSRXPtNZs?si=tCfEE3s-tqKM-CUS https://youtu.be/Oa16grXuK1g?si=rG_qhbG6pZAPLyYu https://youtu.be/UlEQzzIRlmU?si=XGl4NirbXyitoVhd https://youtu.be/_J8t6q2EL7k?si=ZAVAxfFiklF5yD_L https://youtu.be/73vw4xVCPEM?si=gOMJaGllPJtNcFsz https://youtu.be/r7zDsVZcHg0?si=SlIoBmXr9ei4OaeN https://youtu.be/Z4VSvlLsOP4?si=mSKdHmakwvRNcI12 https://youtu.be/6YzbFVnY9Nk?si=hexEDm9yS8hazvvR Connect With Us: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include:
Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!) | |||
| "Weekend" (1967): Cars, Cannibals and The End of Cinema | 14 avr. 2026 | 01:04:41 | |
"A Podcast Found in a Garbage Dump." The journey is complete. In the final installment of our Road to Godard series, we tackle Jean-Luc Godard’s 1967 scorched-earth satire, Weekend. We have traveled from the poetic realism of Grand Illusion to the revolutionary "End of Cinema," navigating a landscape of endless traffic jams and the collapse of the social contract. In this episode, we discuss: The High Concept: Why Weekend might actually be Godard’s most "High Concept" film, surprisingly borrowing the narrative DNA of Road to Zanzibar. The Death of Narrative: How Godard tears up the traditional rules of filmmaking to create something confrontational, sarcastic, and new. The Great Traffic Jam: Breaking down one of the most famous tracking shots in history and its scathing critique of bourgeois consumerism. The Series Wrap-Up: Reflecting on the evolution of film language across our four-film journey—from Grand Illusion, Children of Paradise, and Orpheus to this final destination. Host: Eric Trommater Panel: Erin Brown, Jennifer Trujillo, and Sila Blume Chapters: 0:00 Podcast Opening and Panel's Initial Reactions to Weekend 5:20 Analyzing Godard's Iconic Traffic Jam and French Cultural Critique 12:24 Is Godard's Weekend Funny, Satirical, or Simply Mean-Spirited? 25:01 From Nihilism to Maoism: Understanding Godard's Political Evolution 31:48 Weekend's Unexpected Link to Road to Zanzibar and Cannibalism 43:30 Panelists' Personal Struggles and Weekend's Enduring Cinematic Impact 54:10 Reflecting on the Road to Godard: Connecting Influential Films 1:00:42 Where to Find Us and What's Coming Next on the Podcast Clips used: https://youtu.be/aM5z0XLRdXc?si=utq9OwLLKLqMRWoZ Nouth Jazz B. White (1920) https://youtu.be/w7e-TTRQHMs?si=VAtn3RgwWZC9QUUy Road to Zanzibar Trailer https://youtu.be/4F7sdy2rZws?si=4sRiepWig58Okj6z https://youtu.be/OFXmVSEVa7Y?si=dHF1ONW8sONF5Gk2 https://youtu.be/CwbYnGhZ2pU?si=2cM3pll3_VoQNxTZ https://youtu.be/2xaQu3uP6VA?si=zhJkza01jYBlPd_n Connect With Us: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!) | |||
| Children of Paradise (1945): A Beautiful Corpse? | 01 avr. 2026 | 01:14:56 | |
In the penultimate installment of our Road to Godard series, we dive into the 1945 epic that the Cahiers du Cinéma crowd famously dubbed a "beautiful corpse." Filmed under the extreme constraints and constant surveillance of the Nazi occupation of France, Marcel Carné and Jacques Prévert managed to construct a work of staggering scale—complete with massive sets and a cast of thousands. Host Eric Trommater and panelists Erin Brown, Sila Blume, and Jennifer Trujillo examine how this pillar of poetic realism functions as both a defiant act of French culture and a meditation on the elusive nature of love and the stage. We discuss why this film remains a vital touchstone for understanding the cinematic world that Godard would eventually inherit and challenge. Episode Chapters 0:00 Welcome to Children of Paradise: Initial Reactions 8:46 Unpacking Love, Sincerity, and Character Complexity 14:27 Jacques Prévert's Poetic Vision on Screen 16:50 Cinematic Resistance During Nazi-Occupied France 20:37 The Rich Literary Dialogue and Love's Complexities 24:16 Exploring Character Borders and the Nature of Love 30:13 Garance's True Love and the Nuances of Romance 38:57 Wartime Choices and Troubling Character Stereotypes 45:22 Lacenaire's Identity and Prévert's Artistic Rebellion 49:59 Godard's "Beautiful Corpse" and Political Backlash 53:13 The People's Theater and the Film's Title 58:27 The Controversial 4K Restoration: A Visual Debate 1:09:00 Final Thoughts on Garance and Film Appreciation 1:11:03 Join the Discussion and Next Week's Episode Godard's "Weekend." Clips Used. https://youtu.be/81J56YChYo4?si=pU8ccBbm_Bz-uwt0 https://youtu.be/jKorhmX5IDo?si=rWoKjCU9pvCuMosc https://youtu.be/wNl9ksUI-bU?si=nCQ6VMQwcVv3DSwo https://youtu.be/co52GGV1SYc?si=-8EDa8W6CeD8Zv4V https://youtu.be/2a-VL1VoHJ0?si=_pfOoPiDjTJo6CCd https://youtu.be/rpMvf4Gdn-4?si=8jPi_lxKBa5wp03V https://youtu.be/KZBdgRR85sw?si=y8aCRsDm1RlhGyKC https://youtu.be/0RRWCxfkmtA?si=qAK4_OENas2QpIQ3 Connect With Us: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!) | |||
| Cocteau’s Orpheus Trilogy: WTF is This? | 21 mars 2026 | 01:45:28 | |
Cocteau’s Orpheus Trilogy | WTF is This? Host: Eric Trommater Panel: Erin Brown, Sila Blume, and Jennifer Trujillo In this episode, we step through the mirror into the cinematic life of Jean Cocteau. We examine the foundational trilogy—The Blood of a Poet (1930), Orphée (1950), and The Testament of Orpheus (1960)—not as technical exercises, but as a shared space where the image carries a specific, undeniable weight. We’re moving past the usual "film school" vocabulary to discuss how Cocteau demands a unique kind of recognition from his audience. From the post-war static of the car radio to the literal thresholds of death, we explore how these films function when we stop treating them as "social commentary" and start treating them as a lived, theological reality. We also place Orpheus ('50) in its proper sequence on our "Road to Godard," between the elegance of Grand Illusion ('37) and the eventual collapse of Weekend ('67). YouTube Chapters: Cocteau’s Orpheus Trilogy 00:00 John Simon's Challenge: Try Harder for Cocteau 04:00 Jean Cocteau: Poet, Painter, Filmmaker, Surrealist 10:00 The Poet's Struggle: Art, Self-Portrait, and Discomfort 14:00 Through the Mirror: Cocteau's Evolving Symbolism of Mortality 22:00 Cocteau's Practical Effects and Filmmaking Legacy 28:00 Eric's Journey: Cocteau's Films and Digital Restoration 34:00 The Uncomfortable Truth: Punishment and Fetish in Art 41:00 From Myth to Modernity: Orpheus and the Burden of Celebrity 44:00 Orpheus's Obsession: Radio Signals and the Nature of Addiction 56:00 Jean Cocteau's Controversial Wartime Conduct and Queer Aesthetic 1:03:00 Unpacking Power Dynamics: From Nazis to Modern Political Parallels 1:16:00 The Final Film: Cocteau's Confession and Technical Decline 1:20:00 Recurring Motif: Eyes, Perception, and Artistic Cameos 1:27:00 Unstuck in Time: Immortality, Death, and Evolving Perceptions 1:34:00 Cocteau's Complex Legacy: Confession, Narcissism, and Horses 1:42:00 Children of Paradise: Next Week's Film and Podcast Wrap-up Clips and Music Featured: Archival Resonance: German troops marching (1939) and the BBC’s 1945 broadcast of the crossing of the Rhine, grounding the Orphic myth in the shadow of history. Sonic Texture: The surrealist "horse-sense" of the Mr. Ed theme, the precision of Saint-Saëns' Violin Sonata No. 1, the ethereal "Space Ambience" by Alexander Nakarada, and Philomena Cunk’s vital inquiry: "What the f*** is this?" Links: German Troops Marching: https://youtu.be/cQXS6yWuyWw 1945 BBC Broadcast: https://youtu.be/67m3jOU94Pw Mr. Ed Theme: https://youtu.be/6GAbc5uQXJo Saint-Saëns Violin Sonata: https://youtu.be/qdmz1PjC1oM Space Ambience: https://youtu.be/sB6jXSr7_wQ Cunk (What is this?): https://youtu.be/2ek8WvBI48w Orpheus Clip 1: https://youtu.be/c4CeP3tuHVU Orpheus Clip 2: https://youtu.be/2a-VL1VoHJ0 Orpheus Clip 3: https://youtu.be/m5NHeauBtTM Connect With Us: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: http://spotify.com X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include bonus episodes, attending live recordings, and having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance). Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory | |||
| Jethro Waters Exclusive Interview: "Gunfighter Paradise" (2025) | 05 mars 2026 | 01:27:17 | |
A Conversation with Jethro Waters. In this episode, our panel—Eric Trommater, Erin Brown, Jennifer Trujillo, and Sila Blume—sits down with a true polymath of modern film: Jethro Waters. Jethro serves as the writer, director, editor, and cinematographer for his debut feature, Gunfighter Paradise. He even steps in front of the lens as the film’s lead actor under the nom-de-plume Braz Cubas. Together, we explore the grueling yet rewarding journey of bringing a first feature to life, the intentionality behind the film's striking visual language, and the technical artistry of the lenses and camera techniques used to capture it. We also engage in a broader dialogue on the future of independent cinema as it navigates the shifting tides of a streaming-dominated world. Music Featured in This Episode: Sci-Fi Music for YouTube Videos (No Copyright) – https://youtu.be/2a-VL1VoHJ0 Sid Hemphill: Complete Library of Congress Recordings 1941-1942 – https://youtu.be/cTjA1a1CjQs Muddy Waters: Field Recordings 1941-1942 – https://youtu.be/co52GGV1SYc Nouth Jazz - B. White (1920) – https://youtu.be/sB6jXSr7_wQ Chapters: 0:00 Eric's Provocative Godard Comparison and Erin's AI Test 2:36 The Story Behind Jethro's Alias and Nancy Buirski 's Influence 8:58 Exploring Gunfighter Paradise's Religious Themes and Dark Humor 16:40 Geeking Out and Unpacking Gunfighter Paradise's Layered Visuals and Narrative Structure 27:52 Jethro Waters on Gun Culture and Southern American Identity 41:25 A Technical Dive into Gunfighter Paradise's Cinematography 59:35 Navigating the Independent Film Landscape and Building Community 1:10:58 The Film's Emotional Impact and the Mummified Cat Story 1:20:50 Jethro Waters' Future Projects and Podcast Preview for The Road to Godard Connect With Us: YouTube: World Cinema History Apple Podcasts: World Cinema History on Apple Spotify: Listen on Spotify X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Your contributions through Ko-fi help us keep the film history conversation alive. Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a massive difference. Member Benefits Include: Exclusive Bonus Episodes Access to attend Live Recordings Future exclusive perks The high honor of having your name mispronounced on air (our sincerest apologies in advance!) Join the club here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory | |||
| Oscar Winner Kevin Willmott on "CSA: Confederate States of America" (2004) | 27 févr. 2026 | 01:42:27 | |
We are joined by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Kevin Willmott (Best Adapted Screenplay for Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman) to discuss his 2004 mockumentary, C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America. Alongside our panel—Eric Trommater, Erin Brown, Sila Blume, and Jennifer Trujillo—we explore Willmott’s searing speculative history that imagines a world where the North lost the Civil War. We dive into the film’s use of satire to expose the enduring reality of white supremacy., We examine how the film’s fictional advertisements and the underlying structures of American identity remain uncomfortably close to the present day. Content Warning: This episode contains a candid discussion of systemic racism and features the use of racial slurs in the context of analyzing the film’s satirical and historical themes. Chapters 0:00 Chasing the EGOT: Oscar Winner Kevin Willmott . 7:16 Kevin's Filmography: Unearthing the Houston Riot of 1917 13:14 Hollywood's Slavery Problem and Confederate Flags 17:24 Uncomfortable Truths in CSA's Satirical Ads 24:52 Blending Formats for Historical Mockumentary Realism 35:30 Why America Struggles with Slavery's Emotional History 45:02 USA vs. CSA: Expanding or Limiting Freedom 54:54 How Society Changes and Racism is Taught 1:07:06 Voting Against Self-Interest and Racial Prejudice 1:16:53 The Lost Cause Narrative and Modern America 1:20:27 Why Modern Society is More Stupid and Divided 1:34:13 Out-Satirizing Reality and Closing Discourse 1:39:30 Social Media and Next Episode Preview Music in this Episode Space Ambience by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com She Has Freckles on Her But, She is Nice | https://youtu.be/pNcjs30BZTs Lead Belly - Midnight Special | https://youtu.be/zIC2hVvKzVQ Elmer Bernstein - Appointment with Destiny Theme | https://youtu.be/Qt6eKU3v1XE Nouth by Jazz B White https://youtu.be/sB6jXSr7_wQ?si=5N4jm7bNgvfV-8-8 Connect With Us: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include bonus episodes, attending live recordings, and our sincere apologies in advance for mispronouncing your name on air. Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory | |||
| Is Ralph Bakshi's "Coonskin" (1975) Racist? (Explicit) | 19 févr. 2026 | 01:34:23 | |
Is Ralph Bakshi's Coonskin (1975) Racist? Spoiler: Yes. In 1975, Ralph Bakshi’s Coonskin—a jagged, mixed-media parody of Song of the South—sparked massive protests for its depictions of Harlem, the Mob, and the LGBTQ community. Decades before Roger Rabbit, Bakshi was already blending live-action and animation to create a disturbing, distorted lens of Black America. Host Eric Trommater, joined by Erin Brown, Sila Blume, and Jennifer Trujillo, examines a film that has been a personal touchstone for Eric since childhood. We move past the simple binary of "is it racist?" to ask: Why did Bakshi make this, and what can we learn about race today? In this Episode: The Cast: Dual roles from Scatman Crothers, Charles Gordone, and Philip Michael Thomas. The Controversy: Why CORE protested the film and its near-erasure from history. The Satire: Evaluating Bakshi’s "hidden message" against the weight of his stereotypes. Episode Timestamps 0:00 — The Panel's Unanimous Verdict on Bakshi's Controversial Film 2:37 — Ralph Bakshi's Intentions and the 'White Tourist' Aesthetic 5:32 — Erin's Dislike vs. Sila's 'Bleak Beauty' in Coonskin's Art 7:36 — Jennifer's Take on Coonskin's Blended Reality and Shocking Elements 9:38 — Sila's Deep Dive into Coonskin's Intellectual Depth and Poetic Scenes 16:37 — Bakshi's Tape Recorder Tour and the Miss America Metaphor 19:22 — Panel Debates Ralph Bakshi's Authority to Create Coonskin 23:11 — Suppressed by CORE, Defended by NAACP, and Erik's Unironic Love 26:05 — Coonskin's Portrayal of Italian Mafia and Homosexual Stereotypes 29:03 — Jennifer's Critique of Coonskin's Queer Characters and Lack of Depth 37:30 — Sila Questions the Depth of Coonskin's Satire and Its Intent 42:44 — How Bakshi Amplifies the Voices of His Characters in Coonskin 46:47 — The Symbolism of Miss America and Its Disturbing Parallels to Racism 53:12 — The Role of Black Collaborators and the 'Deliberately Ugly' Art Style 57:27 — Defending Coonskin's Visuals as Intentional and 'Punk Rock Beauty' 1:05:30 — Questioning Bakshi's Intelligence and the Validity of His Satire 1:13:58 — Sila's Argument for Experiencing Art Beyond Pure Intellectual Analysis 1:17:17 — Malcolm the Cockroach, Awkward Interactions, and the Satisfaction of Otherness 1:26:05 — Unexpected Penises, Film's Message, and Next Week's Episode Connect & Support: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the DVD Extras Club on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory | |||
| Black History Month: Ousmane Sembène's "Black Girl" (1966) | 12 févr. 2026 | 01:02:08 | |
For Black History Month, we are exploring the roots of independent African filmmaking. Black Girl serves as a powerful starting point for this journey, tracing the movement of a young Senegalese woman from Dakar to the French Riviera. We discuss Sembène's transition from literature to film as a means of communicating with a non-literate audience, effectively creating a new visual language for a post-colonial era. Next Week: Oscar Winning Screenwriter Kevin Willmott joins us to discuss his 2004 Mockumentary "CSA: Confederate States of America." Music https://youtu.be/NpTyPVbs-64?si=ZMXUHYLQ4Q0ejUI4 https://youtu.be/guexLrL44t0?si=UmYYD5vTdrXkGwz4 Connect With Us: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!) | |||
| Black History Month: Djibril Diop Mambéty’s " Touki Bouki" (1973) | 07 févr. 2026 | 01:15:36 | |
The Road to Godard hits the streets of Dakar. In this episode of the World Cinema History Podcast, we immerse ourselves in the vibrant, avant-garde energy of Djibril Diop Mambéty’s 1973 landmark, Touki Bouki. Eric Trommater, Erin Brown, Jennifer Trujillo and Sila Blume break it all down. Erin and Eric were rather cold on Godard's Breathless. Will the warmer climate of Senegal warm up them to the same techniques? As part of our Black History Month celebration, we examine how Mambéty’s radical style and jagged editing bridge the physical and psychic gap between Senegal and the elusive dream of the West. Clips Used: Alexander Nakarada Space Ambience https://youtu.be/sB6jXSr7_wQ?si=LKAgAfA8tooq41bI Hello Goodbye. Touki Bouki opening song. Josephine Baker sings "Paris, Paris, Paris." https://youtu.be/guexLrL44t0?si=rvCVfQhD8bbFPsTd Martin Scorsese on Touki Bouki https://youtu.be/o555EiqRC10?si=5U41jyqcen-YOd4j Veggie Tales The Song of the Cebu. https://youtu.be/_uv8Ej4CEoQ?si=Dus5IoYU-J8JVCmL African Drums. No Copyright https://youtu.be/LmtCfMncFSk?si=hB-bJzGzzo5ynl_d Connect With Us: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!) | |||
| Miguel Ángel Ferrer | An Outlaw Filmmaker's Journey | 31 janv. 2026 | 01:25:03 | |
In this installment of World Cinema History, we move from the historical Road to Godard into the contemporary trenches of independent cinema. We are joined by writer-director Miguel Ángel Ferrer, whose film The Shadow of the Sun—Venezuela’s 2023 Oscar entry—is a study of survival and using your dreams as a roadmap to becoming your best self. The Roundtable Discussion: Bypassing the Permission Slip: Miguel details the conviction required to walk across the Colombian-Venezuelan border on foot to reach his own set after his funding vanished mid-shoot. The Short Film Lineage: We trace Miguel’s stylistic development through his short films, deMonica and Innocent Attraction. The panel discusses how these earlier works established the visual frequency and Outlaw spirit that define his current feature work. The Unconscious Heritage of Resistance: We discuss Glauber Rocha and the Aesthetics of Hunger, exploring how Miguel captured the natural light and resilience of Venezuela while avoiding the heavily packaged traps of "poverty porn." Authentic Frequency: A look at the documentary eye required to bridge the gap between professional actors and raw newcomers like Anyelo Lopez. The Peer-to-Peer Interrogation: Jennifer Trujillo, Nicole de Meneses, and Sila Blume join Eric to discuss the evolution of Miguel’s shorts, the ethics of self-financing, and the point of no return on an independent set. The Historical Bridge: Host Eric Trommater synthesizes these modern guerrilla hacks with the legacy of Jean-Luc Godard and Italian Neorealism, proving that while the technology changes, the Outlaw contract between the filmmaker and the truth remains the same. Support the Signal: Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include bonus episodes, attending live recordings, and future exclusive perks. Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory CHAPTERS 0:00 Introducing Miguel Ángel Ferrer: An Outlaw Filmmaker's Journey 1:59 Miguel's Conviction: Self-Financing 'The Shadow of the Sun' 4:51 Achieving High Quality on a Micro-Budget with Community Support 7:27 Anamorphic Lenses & Natural Light: Capturing Venezuela's Landscape 14:21 From Nat Geo to Outlaw: Ingenuity on an 18-Day Shoot 26:25 The Authentic Performance: Discovering Anyelo Lopez for the Film 34:11 Resilience, Not Victimhood: Navigating the Aesthetics of Hunger 46:47 Miguel's Philosophy: Becoming Your Best Self Through Filmmaking 49:48 From 'deMonica' to Feature: Stylistic Development & Unheard Music 57:26 Nuance & Acceptance: Alex's Journey of Self-Discovery 1:10:18 Badass Women & The Thrilling Future of the 'deMonica' Feature 1:18:38 Exploring Faith, Science, and Humanity in Miguel's Films 1:22:41 The Legacy of Outlaw Filmmaking & World Cinema History's Future Music Clips Used: Alma Llanera: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alma_Llanera_-_Instrumental_al_arpa.ogg Nouth by Jazz B White: https://youtu.be/sB6jXSr7_wQ Savfk Dramatic and Epic Music: https://youtu.be/XuVK1TSTt6c Space Ambience by Alexander Nakarada: https://creatorchords.com INFINITY Epic Futuristic Space Theme: https://youtu.be/4F7sdy2rZws Ambient Atmosphere: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfP6i5T0-DkIpo7FRcofaXJ0RMIZnQx7M Public Domain African Music: https://youtu.be/cJjk5aVze1c "African Royalty" by The Free Cat https://youtu.be/cJjk5aVze1c Connect With Us: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Next: We begin our celebration of Black History Month with Touki Bouki. | |||
| "Breathless" (1960) vs "Nouvelle Vague" (2025) | 14 janv. 2026 | 01:04:35 | |
In the first installment of our Road to Godard series, co-hosts Eric Trommater, Erin Brown, and Jennifer Trujillo dive into the 1959 production that changed everything. We’re putting Jean-Luc Godard’s revolutionary Breathless (À bout de souffle) side-by-side with Richard Linklater’s 2025 film, Nouvelle Vague. While its place in the history of cinema is undeniable, Eric and Erin find themselves largely unimpressed by the film itself. We explore the chaotic energy of the original Paris shoot and the legendary personalities involved—from Jean Seberg and Jean-Paul Belmondo to the critics-turned-directors of Cahiers du Cinéma. In this episode: * Historical Weight vs. Personal Taste: Why Eric and Erin aren't fans of the film, despite its massive influence. * The Seberg Paradox: We discuss why a film leaning on sexist tropes became a sensation among women and female critics like Pauline Kael in 1960. * The 1959 Production: Jump cuts, stolen scenes, and a revolution on the streets of Paris. * Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague (2025): A look at the meta-cinematic portrayal of Truffaut, Godard, and the icons of the era. * Why Breathless remains the definitive—if polarizing—starting point for our Road to Godard series. A sneak peek at future episodes on "La Grande Illusion"(1937), "Children of Paradise"(1945), "Orpheus" (1950), and Godard's own "Weekend" (1967). CONNECT WITH US YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater SUPPORT THE SHOW: JOIN THE DVD EXTRAS CLUB Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!) MUSIC & CLIPS Music: Fallen Petals, Shady Business, and Dark Conspiracy via https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music Space Ambience by Alexander Nakarada: https://youtu.be/sB6jXSr7_wQ?si=DXoxw4XMpnVwDVz8 Nouth Jazz by B. White (1920): https://youtu.be/aM5z0XLRdXc?si=utq9OwLLKLqMRWoZ Featured Clips: Eurotrash: How to watch a Godard Film: https://youtu.be/7xSNuGp2Gxs?si=X6THVHfbOakKfc15 Godard on Classic Film Editing: https://youtube.com/shorts/76f6iIpRPco?si=xuyqkhwLvB6kG9Gx Road to Godard Series: Episode 1 (1959) | |||
| "Tokyo Story" (1953): A Quiet Avalanche | 09 janv. 2026 | 01:21:22 | |
"Isn't life disappointing?" "Yes, nothing but disappointment." Thunderstorms descended as Erin Brown, Eric Trommater, Sila Blume, and Jennifer Trujillo gathered to discuss Yasujirō Ozu’s seminal 1953 film, Tokyo Story. As the conclusion to our series on Aging and Mortality in 1950s Cinema, the weather seemed determined to participate; our noise-proofing wasn't quite up to the task of keeping the storm at bay. In a way, the low rumble of the rain provided the perfect atmosphere to discuss a film widely considered one of the high points of cinema history. We explore Ozu’s unique visual style and the quiet, inevitable disappointments that define the relationships between the generations. In this episode, we reference clips from: Sakura, Japanese Folk Song: https://youtu.be/AK51LblcEOw?si=KlO76cPH6K6Um6C1 Lindsay Anderson on Tokyo Story: https://youtu.be/7pss-7_5Xh0?si=Ox1KlVJPXQS2Do6T Martin Scorsese on Ozu and The Stop Watch: https://youtube.com/shorts/bWRtc63FXM4?si=5ZH4rBx56Vra7GV7 Getting the shot with Yuharu Atsuta: https://youtu.be/g0_iThToEzk?si=g1e8JQNKUFKpnAfp Connect With Us: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA X (Twitter): @etrommater Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club Support the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include: Bonus Episodes Attending Live Recordings Our Love and Appreciation Future exclusive perks we haven't thought of, yet Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance) Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory (Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a huge difference!) | |||
| Bonus: Remembering Rob Reiner and the La Monte Afterparty | 03 janv. 2026 | 00:13:54 | |
In this special bonus installment, we reflect on a filmmaker who defined the American cinematic landscape for decades. We also circle back to the studio for a final word on our recent guest. The Panel Jennifer Trujillo, Sila Blume, Eric Trommater, and Erin Brown. Remembering Rob Reiner (March 6, 1947 – December 14, 2025) The panel gathers to remember the life and legacy of Rob Reiner. Following his passing this past December, we take a moment to look at his run of films: This Is Spinal Tap (1984) Stand by Me (1986) The Princess Bride (1987) When Harry Met Sally… (1989) Misery (1990) A Few Good Men (1992) Additionally, we host a debate on the origins of the mockumentary form, questioning if Peter Watkins' The War Game (1966) should be considered the true first of its kind. The La Monte Afterparty To close out the episode, we briefly recap the final insights from Christine La Monte after she left the studio. We share the post-script thoughts and industry reflections that surfaced once the formal mics were cut, rounding out our time with her before we return to our main series. Upcoming Schedule Next: Tokyo Story (1953) — Ozu and the geometry of aging Following: Nouvelle Vague (2025) — Linklater’s look at the birth of the New Wave Road to Godard 1: Grand Illusion (1937) — Renoir’s foundational work Road to Godard 2: Children of Paradise (1945) — Carné and the theater of life Road to Godard 3: Orpheus (1950) — Cocteau’s poetic underworld Road to Godard 4: Weekend (1967) — The end of cinema Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. | |||
| Christine La Monte interview | Viva Verdi! & Turandot | 31 déc. 2025 | 01:16:22 | |
Producer Christine La Monte joins the show to discuss her Oscar-shortlisted film Viva Verdi! and Ai Weiwei’s Turandot. We talk about the residents of Casa Verdi and the bridge between opera and cinema history. Host: Eric Trommater Panel: Erin Brown, Sila Blume, Jennifer Trujillo Special Guest: My cousin, Jordan Best (Vocals, "O mio babbino caro" by Puccini) https://www.bestsoprano.com/ Links & Info: Listen to "Sweet Dreams of Joy": https://youtu.be/dpAOquDGcUs?si=gli5b6F6hq8FFKfP Next week: Ozu’s Tokyo Story Films recommended by Christine Le Monte The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life, an Academy Award-winning 2013 documentary-short film directed, written and produced by Malcolm Clarke about the oldest living Holocaust survivor. The Age of Champions, a 2011 documentary about The Senior Olympics. Kokuho from 2025, this year's Japanese entry for the Best Foreign Film Oscar. Check us out on YouTube https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. In this episode, the panel sits down with writer and producer Christine La Monte to discuss her work on Viva Verdi! and Ai Weiwei’s Turandot. Even for those who don't follow opera, this conversation is a deep dive into the "third act" of life and the preservation of artistic legacy. [00:03:08] The Producer’s Role: Christine explains her journey from major studios to independent projects, serving as the bridge that ensures a director's vision is faithfully translated to the screen. [00:18:27] Viva Verdi!: The heart of the discussion is a retirement home in Milan built by Giuseppe Verdi for musicians. [00:20:40] A Living Liturgy: We explore a place where the elderly masters and young students share a common language of music, proving that art provides a shared recognition that sustains us through old age. [00:34:04] Ai Weiwei’s Turandot: We also look at how activist artist Ai Weiwei used Puccini’s final work to comment on modern authoritarianism. [00:40:04] Art as Witness: A raw look at how art functions as a public witness to history, even under the pressure of a global pandemic. [01:13:26] Looking Ahead: The panel concludes by previewing the end of the current series with Ozu’s Tokyo Story before beginning the Road to Godard, featuring Grand Illusion ('37), Children of Paradise ('45), Orpheus ('50), and Weekend ('67). | |||
| Umberto D (1952): Pathos, Pensions, and the Goodest Boy | 20 déc. 2025 | 01:08:11 | |
This week on World Cinema History, we continue our series on Aging and Mortality in 1950s Cinema. Having explored the bureaucratic cages of Kurosawa’s Ikiru and the cold Swedish apathy of Bergman’s Wild Strawberries, we now arrive in the blistering, post-war economic hangover of Vittorio De Sica’s 1952 film, Umberto D. Host Eric Trommater is joined by Erin Brown, Sila Blume, and Italianophile Audra Angelique to dissect a film that was so honest about Italian poverty it was publicly accused of "slandering Italy" by the government. In this episode, we discuss: The World’s Most Synchronized Dog: Why Flike is the true star of the film (and why he’s such a good boy). The 18,000 Lire Problem: We break down Umberto’s debt—roughly $340 in today’s money—and why such a "small" sum was a catastrophic, life-ending figure for a pensioner. The Irony of Neo-Realism: How a movement dedicated to "truth" was built on a foundation of noisily dubbed studio dialogue and non-professional actors. The Great Debate: Eric offers a pointed rebuttal to Erin’s preference for this film over China is Near, arguing that while Umberto D. leaves us paralyzed by outrage, Bellocchio’s satire provides a Brechtian "false happy ending" that allows us to process the hypocrisy of the political center. From Realism to Satire: Finding the seeds of Commedia all’italiana in the film’s darkest moments—from professional beggars to Flike holding the hat in his mouth. Join us as we explore the "poetry of the ordinary" and the political minefield that defined one of the most influential eras in film history. Sound Credits Opening Audio: Courtesy of Martin Scorsese’s introduction to Umberto D. on Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Musical Theme: Canto di Lavoro composed by Alessandro Cicognini. Classical Selections: * Vivaldi, Concerto for Viola d'amore in A Minor, RV 397. Rossini, La Gazza Ladra (The Thieving Magpie) Overture. Next Week: We conclude our series with Yasujirō Ozu’s Tokyo Story. Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. | |||
| Ingmar Bergman's "Wild Strawberries" (1957): A Road Trip to Solitude | 13 déc. 2025 | 01:20:53 | |
In this episode, we take an existential road trip from Lund to Stockholm to discuss Ingmar Bergman's 1957 film, Wild Strawberries—or Smultronstället—a film about aging, isolation, and confronting a lifetime of emotional coldness. Host Eric Trommater is joined by panelists Erin Brown (experiencing Bergman for the first time) and Sila Blume for a deep dive into the film's structure. We examine how Bergman uses unsettling dream sequences and unreliable, sunlit flashbacks to hold the protagonist, Dr. Isak Borg (played by Swedish cinema legend Victor Sjöström), accountable for his solitude. We also discuss the controversy surrounding Bergman's biography, explore the tension between public gesture and private acceptance of mortality, and ask: Does the critical habit of viewing every film as autobiography serve the art? Key Cast Credited: Victor Sjöström (Dr. Isak Borg), Ingrid Thulin (Marianne), Bibi Andersson (Both Saras), and Max Von Sydow. Source & Music Credits: Interview Excerpt: Ingmar Bergman on The Dick Cavett Show (1971) Special Thanks for the sound clips: The Swedish Chef (from The Muppets) Cold Open Music: "Glädjens blomster" (Traditional/Elias Sehlstedt) Main Theme Music: "Excelsior! Concert Overture" (Wilhelm Stenhammar) Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. | |||
| Taika Waititi, "Jo Jo Rabbit," and the Art of Anachronism. | 03 déc. 2025 | 01:13:25 | |
Erin Brown hosts a discussion with Eric Trommater and Jennifer Trujillo on one of her favorite movies, 2019's "Jojo Rabbit." The film features Sam Rockwell, Rebel Wilson and Scarlett Johannson in a tale of a young boy and his imaginary friend Adolph Hitler, played by the movie's Writer-Director Taika Waititi. Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. | |||
| WCH Pod: "Ikiru" (1952). D: Akira Kurosawa. Guest: Luke Higginson. | 20 nov. 2025 | 01:42:56 | |
Luke Higginson, who wrote, directed and edited "Relax I'm from the Future," joins Eric Trommater, Erin Brown, Audra Angelique and Jennifer Trujillo to unpack one of his favorite films by his favorite director Akira Kurosawa's "Ikiru." Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. | |||
| WCH Pod: "I Know Where I'm Going!" (1945). Directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Presburger. | 14 nov. 2025 | 01:09:18 | |
Eric Trommater, Erin Brown and Jennifer Trujillo are joined from Bonnie Scotland by Leonard Hockerts from Understanding Movies. We look at Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's romantic comedy "I Know Where I'm Going!" Set in the Hebrides Islands, of Scotland, and starring Wendy Hiller and Roger Livsey, the film was made during the last days of World War II. Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. | |||
| "Let the Right One In" (2008). Terror on Ice. | 05 nov. 2025 | 01:13:37 | |
Eric Trommater, Erin Brown, Nicole de Meneses and Jennifer Trujillo end their month-long look at horror with Tomas Alfredson's (The Snowman and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) 2008 adaptation of John Ajvide Lindqvist's vampire novel "Let the Right One In," set in snowy Sweden. Later remade by Matt Reeves, the original drew a mixed reaction from Eric and Erin while Nicole and Jennifer found it a masterfully done work that mixed genuine scares with a queer romance and a coming of age story. Nicole De Meneses is a writer-director-producer and runs Dark Rainbow Films. https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-dark-rainbows-sapphic-stories-shine Jennifer A. Trujillo runs the Gilbert Baker film festival, showcasing LGBTQIA+ narrative films, shorts and documentaries. https://gilbertbakerfilmfestival.lgbt Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. | |||
| "Near Dark" (1987), and the Vampire-Western-Romance. | 26 oct. 2025 | 01:29:16 | |
Eric Trommater and Erin Brown are joined by Jennifer Trujillo of The Gilbert Baker Film Festival and "Vampire Director" Nicole de Meneses to discuss one of Nicole's favorite films, "Near Dark" (1987). Coming on the heels of our month long look at women behind the camera, we got a chance to celebrate both Spooky-Season and Katherine Bigalow, the first woman to ever win an Academy Award for best director. Part Vampire film, part Western, part Romance, "Near Dark" stars Adrian Pasdar as Caleb Colton, Jenny Wright as Mae, Lance Henriksen as Jesse Hooker, Bill Paxton as Severen and Jenette Goldstein as Diamondback. We also took a moment to remember our dear friend Mark Redfield who passed away just hours before we recorded the episode. To support Nicole de Meneses' new Sapphic Vampire Film go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-dark-rainbows-sapphic-stories-shine For more information on The Gilbert Baker Film Festival: https://gilbertbakerfilmfestival.lgbt Friend of the show Sav Rodgers is also making a new film and we encourage everyone to check it out at: https://pancakeskank.com/ Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. | |||
| "Vampyr," (1932). Misunderstood or a misfire? | 18 oct. 2025 | 01:06:23 | |
Consider leaving us a tip at KI-FI.com/worldcinemahistory Eric Trommater and Erin Brown are joined by Nicole de Meneses, who is currently making her own vampire film, and Jennifer Trujillo, who runs the Gilbert Baker Film Festival. At issue is Carl Theodore Dreyer's "Vampyr," a strange choice from the director of "The Passion of Joan of Arc," "Ordet" and "Day of Wrath." Opinions varied on the film but it was a fun discussion with a lot of respectful disagreement. Oh, and Taylor Swift somehow gets a mention. Learn more about Nicole de Meneses new film https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-dark-rainbows-sapphic-stories-shine Learn more about the Gilbert Baker Film Festival https://gilbertbakerfilmfestival.lgbt Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. | |||
| Agnes Varda's "Cleo from 5 to 7," edited to appease CPR Agency for MK2 | 09 oct. 2025 | 01:23:57 | |
To support this podcast go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory A group called CPR Agency for MK2 had our original video pulled from YouTube for an alleged Copyright violation. They, most likely, mistook the video for the actual film. Just in case we re-edited the episode, taking out approximately one minute and seven seconds of sound clips from the film. Eric Trommater, Erin Brown and Sila Blume wrap up their month long look at great women behind the camera with Agnes Varda's classic look at 90 minutes in the life of Cléo. Besides serving as a wonderful travelogue of 1960's Paris, the film serves as a haunting vision of the grip of death and the power of living. The film also features a short silent film featuring Jean Luc Goddard himself (in his signature dark sunglasses) as well as a cameo from composer Michel Legrand. Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. | |||
| "What We Do in the Shadows" Special guest Luke Higginson. | 09 oct. 2025 | 00:58:00 | |
Help keep us Advertising Free. Donate at https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory Special Guest Luke Higginson, the writer and director of "Relax, I'm From the Future" (which starred Rhys Darby), joins Erin Brown and Eric Trommater to discuss Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi's 2014 Vampire Mockumentary "What We Do in the Shadows." First, though, Erin Brown tells of her meeting, the day before, with her favorite actor Rhys Darby! Darby also appears in this film as a werewolf (not a swear wolf) named Anton. Our apologies to Johnny Brugh for mispronouncing his name. Apparently, it's pronounced "Bruff." To see the hat Erin hand made and gave to Darby go here: https://www.instagram.com/toadpuppy?igsh=cGttcmhiejJqNWZn Public Domain Guitar music by Ben Levin (thanks Ben!) https://youtu.be/aYc17TR2_W8?si=rrMQp4kxsfO4arpn Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. | |||
| Dr. Ernesto 'Todd' Mireles on "War of the Flea: Fight for Xicano Studies." | 07 oct. 2025 | 00:24:06 | |
Thank you for listening to this bonus episode of World Cinema History. For more content like this join our DVD Extras Club at Ko-Fi.com/worldcinemahistory. This week's bonus episode centers on Dr. Ernesto Todd Mireles's "War of the Flea: Fight for Xicano Studies," a documentary film detailing the story of Chicano students who fought for a Xicano/Latino Studies program at Michigan State University. Dr. Mireles holds a PhD in American Studies from Michigan State University. He is the author of the book "Insurgent Aztlán (Asst-lan): The Liberating Power of Cultural Resistance," which won a 2020 International Latino Book Award. He has served as faculty in the Ethnic Studies department at Northern Arizona University and co-director of the Social Justice and Community Organizing Masters program at Prescott College. On a side note, he was also my Editor and Chief at a Community College Newspaper called The Lookout in 1991, when I served as the Arts and Leisure Editor there, oh so many years ago. Watch the film here: https://youtu.be/J7JyyEmE2bs?si=krhjU5YY7pqoH75f Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. | |||
| Luis Buñuel's "L'Âge d'or" (1930) Explained! WTF is this? | 02 oct. 2025 | 01:47:10 | |
Help keep us advertising free. Go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and toss a buck or two in the tip jar. Eric Trommater and Sila Blume are joined by a special guest as they try and unpack Luis Buñuel's 1930 Surrealist masterpiece ""L'Âge d'or, (The Golden Age)." Dr. Ernesto "Todd" Mireles is an award-winning author, filmmaker, educator, and a lifelong activist and organizer in the Xicano movement. Most recently, he was a faculty member in Ethnic Studies at Northern Arizona University and holds the position of National Secretary of the Partido Nacional de la Raza Unida. He begins his assessment with a quote from Roland Barthes' 1967 essay, "The Death of the Author:" "All writing is a critique of reality." This sends the episode spiraling into, yet another, debate on Post-Structuralism with Dr. Mireles taking a pro stance and Eric and Sila against. Eric, however, gives himself the final word (because it's his show). The rest of the episode is a scene by scene unpacking of Buñuel's film and what, if anything, these segments "mean." Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. | |||
| "Seven Beauties " (1975). Feminism, Filmmaking and Lina Wermüller. | 17 sept. 2025 | 01:20:07 | |
Help Keep Us Free From Ads. ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory Erin Brown and Eric Trommater continue their month long look at women behind the camera. This time it's director Lina Wermüller who, despite her name, is an Italian, and her 1975 black comedy "Seven Beauties." One of many films Wertmüller made with leading man Giancarlo Giannini, the film puts its hero, Pasqualino, through the wringer, including a long stay in Concentration Camp during The Second World War. After a loving parody of the film's opening montage (and the repeated refrain of Oh Yeah!) Erin and Eric discussed what it was that made Wertmüller's work so attractive to male film critics in the middle 1970's but left so many (although not all) of their feminist cohorts more than a bit cold. The episode features a clip from Martin Scorsese on Wertmüller. Stick around for the Easter Egg at the end of the episode featuring a clip from the late 'Macho Man' Randy Savage. Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. | |||
| "Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du..." The best film of all time? | 11 sept. 2025 | 01:44:49 | |
Help us stay Advertising Free with a one time tip or by joining our DVD Extras Club. https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory Eric Trommater, Erin Brown and Sila Blume discuss Chantel Ackerman's 1975 film "Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles." Named the Best Film of All Time in 2022 by Sight and Sound Magazine's poll of filmmakers, critics and influencers. The movie is a slow, methodical, look at three days in the life of a housewife played by Delphine Seyrig. We also took the opportunity to make our own top ten lists of the best movies ever made, just in case Sight & Sound ever calls us. Not holding our breath on that. Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. | |||
| DVD Extra. Three Queer Women on Fire: Nicole De Meneses, Jennifer A. Trujillo and Laura Petrie. | 11 sept. 2025 | 00:38:55 | |
Here's a free look at extra content you can receive by joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes Like This One * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. A post script to our "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" episode. Nicole De Meneses, Jennifer A. Trujillo and Laura Petrie talk about all things Queer Cinema and share some of the exciting films they've seen, recently, on and off the LGBTQIA+ Film Festival Circuit. Recommended films include Nicole's own film "Dead in Love" (now streaming on Amazon Prime), "Twinless," "Splitsville," "Straight Up," "Gondola" "Near Dark," "Interview with a Vampire (TV Series)," "Bullet Proof: A Lesbian's Guide to Surviving the Plot," "Love Mr, Bait Me: The Power of Queer Representation," "1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture," "Mama Bears," "I Am Not Alone, Anymore," "On Swift Horses," "Honey Don't," "Sally," "The Cat-Sitter," "Old Lesbians," "Outliers and Outlaws," and "Safety State." Nicole De Meneses is a writer-director-producer and runs Dark Rainbow Films. https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-dark-rainbows-sapphic-stories-shine Jennifer A. Trujillo runs the Gilbert Baker film festival, showcasing LGBTQIA+ narrative films, shorts and documentaries. https://gilbertbakerfilmfestival.lgbt Laura Petrie runs The Cinema Systers Film Festival. The only all-lesbian film festival in America. https://cinemasysters.com/ Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater | |||
| "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" (2019) and The Female Gaze. | 09 sept. 2025 | 01:18:18 | |
If you enjoy this program consider leaving us a tip at https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory or, for more content, join our DVD Extras Club. Director Céline Sciamma's 18th century sapphic love story can be enjoyed simply for the beauty of it's images, the great performances by Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel and Luàna Bajrami, or as an all too human tale of love and loss. It was also seen as a great step forward in queer representation on screen and the ability of openly gay women to tell their own stories. The normal panel of Eric Trommater, Sila Blume and Erin Brown were augmented this week by four diverse voices within the queer women's film world. Nicole De Meneses is a writer-director-producer and runs Dark Rainbow Films. https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-dark-rainbows-sapphic-stories-shine Jennifer A. Trujillo runs the Gilbert Baker film festival, showcasing LGBTQIA+ narrative films, shorts and documentaries. https://gilbertbakerfilmfestival.lgbt Laura Petrie runs The Cinema Systers Film Festival. The only all-lesbian film festival in America. https://cinemasysters.com/ krissy mahan is a working class filmmaker whose work uses humor to explore contemporary issues such as accessibility, gender expression and classism through short films and documentaries. https://www.dykeumentary.com/ Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. | |||
| Jeanne Dielman After Party. Exclusive Bonus Episode. | 03 sept. 2025 | 00:17:35 | |
Here's a free look at extra content you can receive by joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes Like This One * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for as little as $1.00. Discussion this week includes: asking why no women directors were in any of our top ten films of all time lists, what does and doesn't qualify as a vampire film, time as a character in Jeanne Dielman and a lot more. Enjoy. Just like street drugs, the first one is free. Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater | |||
| WCH Pod: "A Man for All Seasons" (1966). "I die The King's good servant, and God's first." | 13 juil. 2025 | 02:01:35 | |
If you want to support us we are at: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory Yassi Sofi and Eric Trommater. "Some men think the Earth is round, others think it flat; it is a matter capable of question. But if it is flat, will the King's command make it round? And if it is round, will the King's command flatten it? No, I will not sign." Henry VIII scraps the Catholic Church in order divorce his wife and marry Anne Boleyn. In the process Thomas More loses his head but doesn't go down without a fight. Directed by: Fred Zimmerman. Starring: Paul Scofield as Thomas More, John Hurt as Richard Rich, Robert Shaw as Henry VIII and Orson Welles as Cardinal Wolsey. With Eric Trommater and Yassi Soufi. **Originally Recorded Nov. 9th 2023 on X- Spaces** Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. | |||
| "Bedrooms and Hallways," (1998). Quirkiness, Queerness, and Farce. | 01 juil. 2025 | 01:19:04 | |
If you want to support us we are at: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory Erin Brown and Eric Trommater continue their look at Queerness in Cinema with Rose Troche's 1998 comedy "Bedrooms and Hallways." The film stars: Kevin McKidd, Hugo Weaving, James Purefoy, Tom Hollander, Christopher Fulford, Julie Graham, Con O'Neill (ticking Erin's OFMD box), Paul Higgins, Jennifer Ehle, Harriet Walter and Simon Callow. Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. | |||
| "Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person" (2023). A Kinder, Gentler Vampire | 23 juin 2025 | 01:03:06 | |
If you want to support us we are at: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory Special guest host Nicole de Meneses a writer, director, and founder of Dark Rainbow Films, an independent production company specializing in bold, unapologetic LGBTQ+ stories through a genre lens. She chose Ariane Louis-Seize's "Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (Vampire humaniste cherche suicidaire consentant)," from Quebec, Canada for Eric Trommater, Sila Blume and Erin Brown to discuss. Erin also talks about her new tattoo (see episode artwork). To support Rainbow Films latest Sapphic Vampire Film go to https://gofund.me/8bb3e9f6 To see more work by the artist who inked Erin: https://www.instagram.com/alden.karn.ink?igsh=YWs1ZDdqNnRiZDBi Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. #LastBiteFilm #IndieHorror #Vampires | |||
| "China Is Near" (1967). Class, Culture and Comedy, Italian Style. | 16 juin 2025 | 01:06:11 | |
Help keep us ad free at: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory We round off our trilogy of Italian comedies with Erin Brown and Eric Trommater' s discussion of Marco Bellochio's 1967 film "China is Near," focusing on class struggle within the Italian Socialist party. With cinematography Tonino Delli Colli, editing by Roberto Perpignani, and music by Ennio Morricone, it also serves as an early look at some of the film industry's great craftsman who would shape the next 50 years of international cinema. Check us out on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehist?si=z8Yay0W0I-6APEZz on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892 or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJvngtDMhey0CNsWj?si=i143kCA8RQKhQauUICLrmA or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. | |||
| "The Organizer" (1963). Commedia all'italiana per eccellenza! | 03 mai 2025 | 01:19:22 | |
Help keep us ad free at: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory Eric Trommater, Sila Blume and Erin Brown discuss commedia all’italiana and Mario Monicelli's 1963 film "The Organizer." The film stars Marcello Mastroianni as a High School teacher turned labor organizer in Turin at the end of the 19th century. With a screenplay by Age & Scarpelli and cinematography by Giuseppe Rotunno the film should have been a classic in both Italian Comedy and Neo-Realism but instead was almost forgotten until a restored version appeared in 2012. Music https://youtu.be/pVsTh2gg3aE?si=ggOIE2GA7CT1i2gn https://youtu.be/pq70CXoPb9k?si=kKx1CD38RPV7n4w2 https://youtu.be/3JmFa2Q40lg?si=ti06r-P5ojyQQ7U5 Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldCineHist on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YkCJSJ... or follow us on X (The Artist Formerly Known as Twitter): @etrommater Consider joining the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club. Benefits include: * Bonus Episodes * Attending Live Recordings of the Show * Our Love and Appreciation * Whatever Else We Think of in The Future * Having your name mispronounced on the podcast (sorry in advance) To join just go to https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory and make a recurring monthly payment for any amount. | |||